May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams hosted a grand party at Gracie Mansion in Manhattan’s Upper East Side on the 21st to celebrate. A multitude of guests gathered at the event, where Mayor Adams honored four outstanding individuals and organizations from the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, including the 141-year-old Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New York.
After a brief opening by Chief Advisor Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Mayor Adams appeared at Gracie Mansion in a vibrant red suit with a white shirt, accompanied by City Council members Sandra Ung and Susan Zhuang, as cheers from the crowd filled the stage. Adams highlighted the increasing visibility of Asian Americans in politics, citing community ethnic representatives like Ung and Zhuang who serve the people at both city and state levels.
Mayor Adams mentioned the historical contributions of Asian immigrants to New York City, such as the first Japanese immigrants arriving 161 years ago, thousands of Chinese workers building the first transcontinental railroad between 1863 and 1869, and the growth of South Asian immigrants in the mid-19th century. These are among the reasons why the AAPI Heritage Month celebration took place at Gracie Mansion.
During the annual AAPI Heritage Month, the Mayor acknowledges outstanding individuals within the community. This year’s honorees included Jeehae Fischer from the Korean American Family Service Center (KAFSC), Lily Han, Chair of the Information Committee of the International Leadership Foundation (ILF) and the 2022 Mrs. World America Champion, Alan Way, Vice President of the U.S.-China Public Affairs Committee and Co-founder of the Love Relay Foundation, as well as the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New York (CCBA).
Representing the CCBA, consultant Raymond Tsang accepted the award, expressing gratitude for the close collaboration with the Mayor’s Office in the past, including support for initiatives like resisting the police stop-and-frisk reporting bill and advocating for the Mayor’s control over public schools. Tsang indicated future collaborations with the city government on projects such as “Chinatown Connections.”
As the highlights of the AAPI Heritage Month event, Council members Sandra Ung and Susan Zhuang praised Mayor Adams for his consistent support in organizing Chinese New Year celebrations and various AAPI events, recognizing the contributions of the Asian American community. Council member Zhuang noted the increasing political participation of Chinese Americans and the establishment of the Wenjian Liu Memorial School in Brooklyn under Mayor Adams’ tenure, which enhances the community’s recognition.
The celebration party featured a variety of Asian cuisine and beverages, including shrimp chips, Japanese sodas, stir-fried noodles, and exquisite dim sum from the renowned Cantonese restaurant Dim Sum Palace, which attracted guests who eagerly lined up to taste the delicacies.